The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
